Omega-3 fatty acids, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated

Comments European Food Safety Authority

Summary

The European Commission has requested EFSA to issue an opinion on the scientific substantiation of nutrition claims relating to omega-3 fatty acids, mono-unsaturated fat, poly-unsaturated fat and unsaturated fat. In this context EFSA was asked to review the scientific merits of the following proposed claims and advise on their addition to the Annex of the Regulation on the use of nutrition and health claims on foods proposed by the Commission July 2003.

- Omega-3 fatty acid source: The food must contain more than 15% of the Recommended Nutritional Intake (with RNI set at 2g/day for an adult male) for an adult male of the omega 3 fatty acids concerned per 100 g or 100 mL or 100 kcal.

- High in omega-3 fatty acids: The food must contain more than 30% of the Recommended Nutritional Intake for an adult male of the omega-3 fatty acids concerned per 100 g or 100 mL or 100 kcal.

- High monounsaturated fat: A claim that a food is high in monounsaturated fat, and any claim likely to have the same meaning for the consumer, may only be made where at least 45% of the fatty acids present in the product derive from monounsaturated fat under the condition that saturated fat must not provide more than 10% of energy.

- High polyunsaturated fat: A claim that a food is high in polyunsaturated fat, and any claim likely to have the same meaning for the consumer, may only be made where at least 45% of the fatty acids present in the product derive from polyunsaturated fat and saturated fat must not provide more than 10% of energy.

- High unsaturated fat: A claim that a food contains high amount of unsaturated fat and any claim likely to have the same meaning for the consumer may only be made where the amount of unsaturated fat is 70% of the total fat content in the product.

Source: Opinion of the NDA Panel related to nutrition claims...
Author: EFSA

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European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) (en)

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